Karlsruhe City Council and Karlsruhe Police "Overcoming Domestic Violence" Project Team POLICE ORDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KARLSRUHE Information on procedures in Karlsruhe English | Englisch 2 | POLICE ORDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KARLSRUHE "OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" PROJECT TEAM | 3 NOTES FOR THE USER In order to improve readability and with regard to linguistic simplifi cation, this publication is addressed mainly to women and children from page 7 on. Experience has shown, in the overwhelming majority of cases of domestic violence, they are the victims. Only very occasionally has a police protection order been made against a female partner. Naturally it can be made against an aggressive female partner, and in this case the regulations apply to her behaviour just as much as they would to a male partner. Important addresses of advice centres for men can be found in the appendix page 16 following. 4 | POLICE ORDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KARLSRUHE "OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" PROJECT TEAM | 5 CONTENT Domestic violence – WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? 7 1. Refuge (Frauenhaus) or hotel 7 2. Remaining in your own home 7 What happens when the police make a protection order? 8 Police law measures against the person responsible for the maltreatment – and what happens in cases of his non-compliance? 9 A few days of security from violence – and what happens then? 9 Advice for women who have experienced violence 11 ... and what about the children? 12 ... and what about the offenders? 13 ... and female offenders? 14 ... men as victims of violence? 14 Change is possible 15 Important addresses and contact persons 16 Police (Polizei) 16 Women's Advice Centres (Frauenberatungsstellen) 16 Refuge houses in Karlsruhe (Frauenhäuser in Karlsruhe) 16 Domestic Violence Advice Centre for Men (Beratungsstelle bei Gewalt im sozialen Nahraum für Männer) 16 Anti-Violence Counselling and Training for Women (Anti-Gewalt-Beratung und Training für Frauen) 16 Local Police Authority – Karlsruhe City Council (Ordnungs- und Bürgeramt, OA) 17 Courts (Gerichte) 17 For children and young people 17 Social Services Offi ces and their catchment areas (Sozialer Dienst – Bezirksgruppen und ihre Einzugsgebiete) 18 Further advice centres for women and men 19 Further important addresses 19 National support hotline (Bundesweites Hilfetelefon) 19 Glossary (Glossar) 20 6 | POLICE ORDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KARLSRUHE "OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" PROJECT TEAM | 7 Since June 2000, the Karlsruhe police and the City Council have followed new DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – earning a living, to the Social Services Offi ce procedures to protect men and women threatened, injured or abused by their WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? (Sozialamt) on the next available working day. partners. The offender can be forced to leave the joint home and prohibited from There they will check whether they can pay approaching his or her partner in order to protect the victim from further abuse. Many women try to hide the fact that acts of hotel expenses. violence have been carried out against them In the course of the amendment of the Baden-Württemberg Police Act or seek refuge with friends without informing In any case, if children are involved, it is (Polizeigesetz Baden-Württemberg, PolG BW) in 2008, these procedures were the police. Men, too, who experience violence highly recommended to contact the relevant explicitly embodied in the law. rarely turn to public services. However, often Social Services Offi ce for your area as soon friends or neighbours call the police. as possible. This offi ce as well as the advice In section 27a paragraph 3 of the Baden-Württemberg Police Act, the following centres for women (Frauenberatungsstellen) protection orders (Schutzanordnungen) are stipulated: What action is taken by the police? will assist you in taking the next steps (see The police will want to speak to you and addresses listed in the appendix). the children who might be involved and EXPULSION (WOHNUNGSVERWEIS), also with your partner. Where a criminal 2. REMAINING IN YOUR OWN HOME PROHIBITION OF RETURN (RÜCKKEHRVERBOT) AND offence is evident then this will be followed If you want to stay in your own home, the up by the police and submitted to the public police can make an order to protect anyone PROHIBITION OF APPROACH (ANNÄHERUNGSVERBOT) prosecutors by means of a complaint. If there who is threatened with violence – that means is a fear of recurring violence, then you may, you and any children likely to be affected. This booklet is intended to inform you about: in consultation with the police, decide either to move into a refuge for abused women This protection order (Schutzverfügung) the meaning of expulsion, prohibition of return and prohibition of approach, (Frauenhaus) or you may wish to remain in may set out the following: your own home. If considered necessary, the who decides about this, police can support this latter decision with the that the violent partner must leave the expulsion of the offender (Wohnungsverweis, home AND must hand over the house over which period of time these protection orders are issued, formerly known as Platzverweis), a prohibition keys. of return (Rückkehrverbot) and/or prohibition = Expulsion (Wohnungsverweis) who administers the procedure, of approach (Annäherungsverbot). that the violent partner will be prohibited what consequences will be taken against the offender if they do not comply, The following services are available: from returning to the family home. = Prohibition of return (Rückkehrverbot) what you can do in case of domestic violence, 1. REFUGE (FRAUENHAUS) OR HOTEL If you cannot remain in your own home, that the violent partner will be prohibited from which advice centres you will be able to obtain support; in the appendix the police help to fi nd which refuge has from approaching you and any children you will fi nd a list with the addresses of the police, courts, advice centres and a vacancy. If there are no vacancies in the who might be affected. Irrespective of other important facilities connected with domestic violence. Karlsruhe refuges, then you may choose to go your place of residence, he must keep at a to a refuge outside Karlsruhe or temporarily certain distance. to a hotel. The police will give you details = Prohibition of approach (Annäherungsverbot) and arrange for your admission. The cost of the accommodation in a hotel will be paid If the partner violates this protection order, for by Karlsruhe City Council's Social Services he will be liable to pay a fi ne of up to 25,000 Department (Sozial- und Jugendbehörde, Euros (amount to be assessed by the City SJB) until the next available working day. Council). Your partner can also be taken into After accommodation in a hotel, you should custody. immediately turn to "Jobcenter" located at Rathaus West or, in case you are incapable of 8 | POLICE ORDERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KARLSRUHE "OVERCOMING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" PROJECT TEAM | 9 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN for the police protection orders (polizeiliche POLICE LAW MEASURES A FEW DAYS OF SECURITY THE POLICE MAKE A Schutzanordnungen). This offi ce decides about AGAINST THE PERSON FROM VIOLENCE – AND the steps to be taken and gives information PROTECTION ORDER? about the duration of the protection order RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHAT HAPPENS THEN? (expulsion – Wohnungsverweis –, prohibition MALTREATMENT – AND If you, as the victim, decide to remain in your of return – Rückkehrverbot –, prohibition of WHAT HAPPENS IN CASES The protection order (Schutzanordnung) home and the police consider it necessary approach – Annäherungsverbot). If you have any issued by offi cials from the police departments that for your safety, measures ought to be questions, please feel free to contact Karlsruhe OF HIS NON-COMPLIANCE? is limited to four working days at maximum. taken, this will be written down in an offi cial City Council's Local Police Authority (Ordnungs- The Karlsruhe City Council's Local Police protection order (offi zielle Schutzanordnung) und Bürgeramt, OA) direct, telephone number: Experience has shown that many violent men Authority (Ordnungs- und Bürgeramt, OA) can made by the police. This order specifi es the +49 721 133-3347. are deterred from further violent action in issue protection orders for a period of up to length of time in which the partner has to cases where the police intervene and where two weeks. If you would like the protection remain away from the joint home and also If minors are involved directly or indirectly in there is a threat of legal proceedings to follow order to be extended, the Protection against what length of time he may not approach your partner's violence, then Karlsruhe City their actions. Violence law (Gewaltschutzgesetz) stipulates either you or your children respectively. The Council's Local Police Authority (Ordnungs- und that you must make a further application protection order issued by the police is valid Bürgeramt, OA) or the Karlsruhe police itself The threat of having to pay administrative to the family court as soon as possible. for a few days only, four days at maximum. will automatically inform the City Council's fi nes, if the safety order is not observed, The police protection order (polizeiliche It can also be issued by the Karlsruhe City Social Services Offi ces (Sozialer Dienst). Social works as a deterrent. Schutzanordnung) may be extended by Council's Local Police Authority (Ordnungs- Services will then contact you, your partner and Karlsruhe City Council's Local Police Authority und Bürgeramt, OA), then valid for a your children themselves. If the person responsible for the violent (Ordnungs- und Bürgeramt, OA), then being maximum of two weeks. A further extension treatment still fi nds some way of threatening valid for another two weeks at maximum.